Gentlemen,

Now that I have some available time I have decided to reload some rifle ammunition. I have extensively reloaded shotgun shells before but somehow I do not think this experience has any value in reloading rifle ammunition. Can anyone recommend a good book on reloading rifle ammunition that addreses the basic and advanced topics of reloading? Also, there is so much reloading equipment available I do not know where to start. I'll probably reload 500 rounds of .22-250 and 500 rounds of .257 Weatherby Mag per year. Is there a "kit" that would cover most of my needs? I'm reasonably handy with my hands and I'm capable of doing light work on my weapons, I tend to be very particular when performing a task due to my mild case of O.C.D. Also, I do not want to throw good money after bad and I would like to buy top quality equipment at the start. While money is always a concern, when it comes to safety and guns there is no compromise, IMO.

Any suggestions or recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

The basic mechanics of sizing, depriming, priming, loading are the same. Powder & projectile handling are different and are hands on as compared to shot shells.
Lyman publishes an excellent book and has long been one of my favorites. IMO RCBS & Redding are the kits you should consider. I'm partial to Redding presses and powder measures and recommend their kit, however, one can't go wrong with RCBS either.

SWPA, welcome to AR---I began my reloading with a similar mindset to you it sounds, I have mild OCD at least, and like good quality tools.

I like the Nosler reloading manual a lot, most folks will tell you to buy a couple and read them, which I agree with. I like the Nosler and Speer manuals. As far as a kit, there are several available, and a great way to start. I would recommend one of the RCBS reloading kits, I really like the one with the digital dispenser scale, but it is a good jump up in price.

Here is a link to the two RCBS 'master reloading kits"
Rock Chucker Supreme Master Kit

Kit with digital scale dispenser

This is an example of how you can get some big price variances with one key component, in this case the dispenser/scale combo. There will be folks who rail against digital scales, that is silly IMO, I have a background in very demanding precision laboratory work, and virtually all of the scales used in that environment were digital. I have a digital lab scale now that is EXTREMELY precise, and there is little to no difference in my RCBS digital scale that is part of the 'Chargemaster' dispenser/scale combo and my lab scale in readings.

Some simple and nice accessories that make it a more enjoyable process to me are better quality reloading blocks, see Sinclair Intnl. caliber specific blocks Sinclair reloading block
and satern reloading funnels (also caliber specific)Satern powder funnels

These are examples of items that you can spend a few dollars on, that are great 'lifetime' tools and just make the process a little nicer, but the block and funnel that come in the kit will function serviciably for sure.

If I was going to do it all again, I would buy a Forster co-ax press, which is pricey, but doesn't require shell holders, and is just a smooth wonderful press, but the RCBS Rockchucker is the press I started with, in fact as part of a kit!

I would start with Forster dies, since to me I have proven they make more precise ammo than standard dies do for me, but again for just hunting ammo it probably isn't even detectable.

Case trimming is something you need to do, and a trimmer is not included in the 'Basic' kit I gave a link to above, there is a trimmer (a damn good one) in the other 'Supreme' kit I linked to.

The cheapest, and one of the most accurate trimming systems out there, is the Lee trimmer system with trimmer stud and lock with their trimming tool. It is very simple to use and pretty inexpensive. I would buy the adapter to be able to use it in a hand drill if I went that route. You can spend a lot of money on trimmers, and I have the wonderful Wilson/Sinclair trimmer, it functions like a small hand lathe, with each case family (i.e. the .06 parent case family) needing a case holder. This creates an expense for each different parent case size ammo you reload, but man this trimmer is precise and just a pleasure to use......

Sorry to ramble on you, hope this was at least as helpful as confusing!

Fish30114,

Thanks for the greeting and for the wealth of information. I did not consider it rambling and I honestly appreciate the time you spent posting your response. I realize the effort that you put forth and hopefully I'll be able to share my knowledge with another novice on the AR forums.

You have given me plenty of leads for me to research and occupy my weekend.

Thank you.

Most of the reloading manuals cover reloading pretty well. I would suggest you buy a couple of them and read them first. Speer, Sierra, Hornady, Nosler are all good. I like the new Lyman manual too.

I own equipment from Lee, Hornady, RCBS, Forster, Redding, Sinclair, and Lyman. They all make good equipment along with Dillon and a few others. RCBS offer a number of starter kits and I think a few others do as well. You are going to get a wide range of opinions on what products to buy. In the end it’s going to be your call.

quote:

Originally posted by SWPAhunter:
Gentlemen,

Now that I have some available time I have decided to reload some rifle ammunition. I have extensively reloaded shotgun shells before but somehow I do not think this experience has any value in reloading rifle ammunition. Can anyone recommend a good book on reloading rifle ammunition that addreses the basic and advanced topics of reloading? Also, there is so much reloading equipment available I do not know where to start. I'll probably reload 500 rounds of .22-250 and 500 rounds of .257 Weatherby Mag per year. Is there a "kit" that would cover most of my needs? I'm reasonably handy with my hands and I'm capable of doing light work on my weapons, I tend to be very particular when performing a task due to my mild case of O.C.D. Also, I do not want to throw good money after bad and I would like to buy top quality equipment at the start. While money is always a concern, when it comes to safety and guns there is no compromise, IMO.

Any suggestions or recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

RCBS Rockchucker kit. IMHO you don't have a clue what you will settle on (once you get a little experience). Add a hand priming tool (Lee, RCBS, Forster, Sinclair, whatever).

Find an experienced reloader and make friends. It really isn't difficult to start, but being shown rates an order of magnitude over reading. Your shotgun experience is pertinent because -- safety is first.

A-Square's "Any Shot You Want" goes beyond basics.

And remember, all rifle shooters used to "reload". Factory ammo came later.

Gentlemen,

Thanks go out to all of you for helping me get started. I spent a few hours this afternoon looking through Midway's master catalog and, along with your comments, I made the decision to start off by buying 3 or 4 good books on reloading. It did not take me long to realize that I cannot become an "instant reloader" of rifle cartridges but rather it takes knowledge and experience to be able to load safe and reliable ammunition.

Thanks for all of your great advice as I now must put some books on order. First things first.

Everyone, thank you.

Good luck to you SWPA, let us know when you get cranked up!

IIRC, I started out with the Speer reloading manual, it breaks everything down into numbered steps and was easy to follow the first time. Reloading looked intimidating during the research but turned out to be pretty simple taking everything step by step. If you begin by loading safe, mid-velocity ammo it's pretty simple. Trying to tune the load for gnats hair accuracy or ragged edge velocity is where things get complicated.

Where can one find the Speer reloading manual?

Two great books I highly recommend:

"Precision Shooting: Reloading Guide" Book Editied by Dave Brennan

A-Square "Any Shot You Want Handloading and Rifle Manual" Reloading Manual

Both of these books are available at MidwayUSA

Another fan of the Rock Chucker Supreme Master Kit here.
You'll need callipers for measuring case length & a case trimmer of some kind - IMO the cheap Lee set-up is more accurate than the "lathe" types.
Hand held priming tool is included along with the Speer manual.
The Lyman manual is excellent for both beginner & more advanced reloaders

quote:

Originally posted by Brando:
Where can one find the Speer reloading manual?

It's included with the Rockchucker kit or available separately here:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...er=537267&t=11082005

Hey, hey, hey, and welcome!

You are where I was about 40 years ago!

Take a little time, and study a good manual or three, which can be had from any of the on-line retailers. Stay basic, at first, then go for the technical stuff, if/when you decide to go further. The manufacturer's manuals will see you through a lifetime of enjoyable reloading.

I favor what I started with; Speer and Lyman. Both good sources, and understandable. For handguns, Lyman uses a 4" vented barrel for testing my favorite calibers.

I started with an RCBS Jr press, and now I have a Hornady that my mother in law bought me for Christmas years ago.

The Rock Chucker set ia a great value, but other manufactrures offer the equivalent. RCBS is marvelous with its warranty.

You will need: Press, dies, trimmer of some flavor,(Lee really works well, but so does my Hornady.) a scale, don't scrimp, but, I have found that my balance beam from Dillon is all I need, because I weigh all my rifle charges; carbide pistol dies are a goodness, and miscellaneous oddments, like powder trickler, funnel, case chamfer tool, calipers (you don't need the expensive ones, just "good enough", because .001 in. is a teeny little distance, and lengths of +- ..004in. are close enough, altho most of us like to get closer. The Lee dipper set is good. Pick one that is some less than your chosen charge,but close, dip it, then trickle it to final. Easy as pie!
(can you say "cartridge proctology"? )

There's more, which you will discover for yourself. Case lubricant: The old methods work very well...case and pad... just fine. When I first started, I had a little bottle of "Eagle Blood" lube that the gun store guy recommended. you'd get a little on your fingers, then anoint a case or three with it, then size. Worked great! Now I use the RCBS or Midway spray lubes, because they are handier IMO. Anyhoo, the info you have here will get you started, and you will enjoy yourself.
Be safe, and have fun!

The cheap Lee trimmer upgraded so you never have to put it down. I can pick up a case, lock it into my trimmer with the 5/8-inch wrench there, trim it, chamfer its mouth with my L. E. Wilson thingy and remove it from my little hand-powered lathe in 24 seconds. I never put down the tool. Too bad I can only do about a dozen before I get bored with the whole process...

Im shopping for my press and been doing alot of shopping myself. I will hand out some knowledge I have came into recently.

By far the cheapest kit on the market is the Challenger Press kit from Lee. You can get almost everything you need with the $104 kit. All you would need to go with it would be a trimmer then your dies, powder, bullets and brass.

The RCBS Rock CHucker kit has nicer things included with it like the lube pad and just some better more well rounded items included. But your price jumps to $300. The big turn off for me about the RCBS is they do not offer a shell holder type deal like Lee does. You can goto midway and buy 12 shell holders in a case for the Lee presses, which includes the most used shell holders and its only $12 on top of the press. If you buy Lee dies, they come with the shell holder. If you buy RCBS, you got to buy the shell holders seperate with every different caliber if that caliber so needs.

Also another kit that is offered and looks appealing to me is the Hornady single stage kit. Its all made in the USA, comes with alot of nice things including a digital scale. nice trimmer too...All you need is the dies, and components for your ammunition. But once again you got to buy all the shell holders seperately. Im not sure if the Hornady dies come with a corresponding shell holders or not.

Of course the benefit of most reloading presses is the dies are all pretty much interchange. Im not sure about the shell holders though. Someone else should know this, they all look the same though just by base pictures.

I just reviewed the kits again, I will clarif some things.

None of the kits come with a trimmer, so that should be on your list as well.

No die sets come with there shellholders either. This is what I dont like about RCBS.

I like either the Lee or the Hornady kits just because you can get the shell holders in kits that will handle probably 95% of your reloading rifle and pistol needs. Hornady make the 5 shell holder kits that will work with both there presses and trimmers.

So after reviewing all the details I think Hornady is the best deal, the only thing I wish it had is the RCBS lube pad kit like the Rock chucker kit comes with. But that is a cheap add-on.

Hornady comes with the Digital scales and the trickler and powder despenser. Not one negative reply on any of there equipment. So I will be buying Hornady in the next few months when they get the trimmer back in stock. My biggest thing is the Shell holders coming in kits and it will work with both there trimmer and press. RCBS you got to buy them single at a time and they are a tad more expensive. Hornady gets my vote, if they had a better design for a case lube pad and it came with there kit, it would be a great kit!

I like RCBS dies because the spindles are threaded, which precludes the spindle being pulled through the die and getting caught in the case. This has happened to me with Lee dies. I also like how the decapping pins are separate in RCBS dies. With Lee if you break the pin, you throw out the spindle. You can buy the RCBS pins in packs of five for about ten bucks. Worth it to have extras on hand. RCBS also offers small-base dies in at least the .223Rem flavor-- maybe even in .308Win and .30-06 Springsteen. I have the .223; don't know about the others...

Yes, over 40 years ago I was in the same boat. I bought a Lyman manual as my first and it included info about casting bullets which also perked my interest as I'd be reloading for my .357 mag revolver too. BTW that 22-250 should do great with the RCBS 58 grain cast bullet mold. You say you have more time---casting is another thing to consider. I was enroute to Alaska when I read the Lyman book and learned a new neighbor there also reloaded. He gave me his opinion on what to buy. I wound up with RCBS Rockchucker press---still going strong. I also got the Belding & Mull powder measure which looked like an antque relic even back then, but it will accurately measure any typ powder---probably slower than most---but isn't accuracy the goal. Someone mentioned buying RCBS decapping pins. Tell them you broke one and they send you free ones. I don't point that out to be cheap---I point it out as to how great their customer service/warranty is. How could you go wrong buying their stuff?

quote:

Originally posted by Brando:
I like either the Lee or the Hornady kits just because you can get the shell holders in kits that will handle probably 95% of your reloading rifle and pistol needs. Hornady make the 5 shell holder kits that will work with both there presses and trimmers.

So after reviewing all the details I think Hornady is the best deal, the only thing I wish it had is the RCBS lube pad kit like the Rock chucker kit comes with. But that is a cheap add-on.

Hornady comes with the Digital scales and the trickler and powder despenser. Not one negative reply on any of there equipment. So I will be buying Hornady in the next few months when they get the trimmer back in stock. My biggest thing is the Shell holders coming in kits and it will work with both there trimmer and press. RCBS you got to buy them single at a time and they are a tad more expensive. Hornady gets my vote, if they had a better design for a case lube pad and it came with there kit, it would be a great kit!

Another successful outcome.

Sorta makes you wonder why you bother.

Winchester 69---really a lube pad is not needed. You can buy Lee lube---but save yourself some money. Go to the electrical section of Lowes etc and buy a quart of GB Wire Aide. A qt will run same price as Lee gets for a few ounces. Put this on your hands and as you handle the cases they get lubed. You can also dilute it in water and submerge the cases and let dry overnight. This will eliminate the scronch you get when removing the case from the sizing die and it goes over the expander ball. I like to tumble my cases after I size them to remove the sizing lube.

quote:

RCBS also offers small-base dies in at least the .223Rem flavor-- maybe even in .308Win and .30-06 Springsteen.

RCBS does indeed offer the .30-06 in small-base...

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
Winchester 69---really a lube pad is not needed. You can buy Lee lube---but save yourself some money....

I use Imperial.

My comment had nothing to do with lube.

Winchester 69---Oooopppss it was Brando that mentioned no lube pad with RCBS kit.

quote:

Originally posted by Brando:
Im shopping for my press and been doing alot of shopping myself. I will hand out some knowledge I have came into recently.

By far the cheapest kit on the market is the Challenger Press kit from Lee. You can get almost everything you need with the $104 kit. All you would need to go with it would be a trimmer then your dies, powder, bullets and brass.

The RCBS Rock CHucker kit has nicer things included with it like the lube pad and just some better more well rounded items included. But your price jumps to $300. The big turn off for me about the RCBS is they do not offer a shell holder type deal like Lee does. You can goto midway and buy 12 shell holders in a case for the Lee presses, which includes the most used shell holders and its only $12 on top of the press. If you buy Lee dies, they come with the shell holder. If you buy RCBS, you got to buy the shell holders seperate with every different caliber if that caliber so needs.

Also another kit that is offered and looks appealing to me is the Hornady single stage kit. Its all made in the USA, comes with alot of nice things including a digital scale. nice trimmer too...All you need is the dies, and components for your ammunition. But once again you got to buy all the shell holders seperately. Im not sure if the Hornady dies come with a corresponding shell holders or not.

Of course the benefit of most reloading presses is the dies are all pretty much interchange. Im not sure about the shell holders though. Someone else should know this, they all look the same though just by base pictures.

brando in case you didn't know you can buy the lee press shell holder set and use them on other presses.